Margarita Mix Hollywood Adds Color Finishing

Margarita Mix Hollywood, a FotoKem company that has been providing award-winning audio post services to the entertainment and advertising industries for 34 years, has developed a post-production finishing workflow that includes the addition of two color suites and an upgraded hub for media management. The expansion and inventive new process enable content creators to complete audio and video work simultaneously at a single facility, adding speed and cost efficiencies to the workflow.

The new color suites are completely integrated with the existing audio bays, usng Nucoda Film Master color grading systems to ensure unmatched Avid integration with direct connectivity to the ISIS and Avocent network. This network provides access to audio and video elements from multiple terminals at the facility.

As part of the expansion, Margarita Mix has added colorists Troy Smith and Michael Mintz, and online editor Adam St. Clair, to its family of artists and engineers.

Margarita Mix clients that use ISIS media servers from FotoKem’s Nonlinear Services Division can now tap into the high-speed fiber connection between facilities, eliminating the need for transporting tapes and drives across town. Addressing the frequent need for shot replacement and other creative changes during the finishing process, this direct connection to the client’s servers allows new media to be prepped and incorporated quickly.

Dustin Montez, Post Supervisor for Ridiculousness and Fantasy Factory, was one of the first clients to use the new color capabilities and expanded services offered by FotoKem and Margarita Mix. “With our space and equipment rented from FotoKem, the streamlining of our services made perfect sense," he says. "The fact that the buildings are connected via fiber saves us, literally, hours of time. When there are fixes, everything is instantly sent back and forth. In our business, it ultimately comes down to the people, and we love our team at Margarita Mix—our colorist, sound designer, the engineers, everyone we work with is top notch. The workflow is easy, saving me time and money, and I don’t have to worry about anything. Any type of show would benefit from collaborating with Margarita Mix.”

Margarita Mix brings award-winning sound services to the pipeline, with four full mixing suites featuring 5.1 surround sound, as well as stations where sound design and pre-lay can take place. The facility’s talented mixers frequently contribute to animated and reality shows, as well as videogames and long- and short-form projects.

Rand Gladden, Senior Vice President of FotoKem, explains: “We knew that combining the power of our network with one-stop audio/video finishing would result in some major advantages in cost and time. This is especially a game changer for reality TV productions that may not have previously had access to high-end workflows at an affordable price point.”

Veneta Butler, General Manager of Margarita Mix, adds, “Our clients have been asking for centralized services for years, and now it’s a reality. Shots on the editorial ISIS across town can be replaced in minutes during an audio or video finishing session at Margarita Mix, providing incredible efficiencies and the ability to work on every aspect of their projects simultaneously.”

"The connection and design of these facilities will empower collaboration," Gladden adds. "When there are tight turnarounds, creative changes, and advancing deliveries, this will be a great value-add for the creative process.”